Reduction in Cell Viability and in Homeobox Protein Levels Following in Vitro Exposure to δ-tocopherol in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Nutr Cancer. 2016;68(3):530-4. doi: 10.1080/01635581.2016.1153672. Epub 2016 Mar 23.

Abstract

δ-Tocopherol (δ-T), the least prevalent tocopherol in our diet, was described to have a more potent anticancer activity in solid tumors compared to the other tocopherols. δ-T induces tumor cell death through peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ) induction, cyclin-D1 inhibition, and modulation of redox balance. Nevertheless, the role of δ-T in preventing or treating hematologic malignancies has not been studied. In this study, we screened the efficacy of δ-T against six cell lines representing a wide spectrum of hematologic malignancies: Jurkat (acute T-cell leukemia), K-562 (chronic myeloid leukemia), KG-1 [acute myeloid leukemia (AML)], THP-1 (acute monocytic leukemia), TOM-1 (acute lymphoblastic leukemia), and UMCL01-101 (AIDS-associated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma). Interestingly, the AML cell line KG-1 was the only one to be significantly affected at concentrations of δ-T as low as 20 µM. The antileukemic activity of δ-T in AML was verified in a set of primary cells collected from patients newly diagnosed with AML. Apoptotic induction and cell cycle arrest explained the efficacy of δ-T against KG-1 cells. The mechanism of cell growth inhibition of δ-T was through downregulation of cyclin-D1 and a set of homeobox proteins (HOXA9, PBX1, and Cdx2) that have a well-documented role in the pathobiology of AML.

Publication types

  • Letter

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Cell Line, Tumor / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cyclin D1 / metabolism
  • Homeodomain Proteins / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Jurkat Cells / drug effects
  • Jurkat Cells / metabolism
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / drug therapy*
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / metabolism*
  • Tocopherols / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • CCND1 protein, human
  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • Cyclin D1
  • delta-tocopherol
  • Tocopherols